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Every week, The Commons mails newspapers to libraries and schools throughout Windham County, and beyond. Of course we do! Part of our mission is make sure that honest, award winning reporting is available to all, regardless of ability to pay.

Now you can help further our mission. Only $75 guarantees a library or school delivery of The Commons for a full year. Join our Sponsor-a-Library program today! Click here (and select “Sponsor a Library” when asked “Apply My Donation To.”)

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We’d love to help you with your ads! Please let us know a little bit about your advertising and your needs, and one of our team will be in touch promptly. You can also call Jen at 802-246-6397 Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

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More than a newspaper

The Commons is the public face of a larger nonprofit organization, Vermont Independent Media, Inc.

We came to life from the ground up in 2004, as members of the community became increasingly concerned about the consequences of absent corporate ownership of the daily newspaper in town and the need for local people to have access to the skills to create their own grassroots media.

VIM came to life lovingly and carefully thanks to indefatigable volunteers. The first public programs of the Media Mentoring Project began in 2005, and the first issue of The Commons was published in 2006. The newspaper was published monthly until 2010, when we began a weekly schedule. We are published on Wednesdays 51 times a year.

Our mission

Recognizing that a vigorous exchange of ideas and information allows democracy to function and is the lifeblood of a community, Vermont Independent Media:

• creates a forum for community participation,

• promotes local independent journalism,

• fosters civic engagement by building media skills

through publication of The Commons and commonsnews.org, and through the Media Mentoring Project.

Nonprofit IRS filings

By law, every 501(c)3 nonprofit organization must make its IRS filings available to the public. Here are ours.

Office hours

We attempt to keep our small newsroom open during the day on weekdays. But we are sometimes out covering the news, many of us are part-time, and we keep odd hours. We welcome your visit, but please make an appointment so you don't make a special trip.

Directions to the office

We're at 139 Main St., Brattleboro, Vermont (the Hooker-Dunham Building).

Search The Commons from 2010 to present

CALENDAR LISTINGS FOR Saturday, June

30

Visual arts and shows

BRATTLEBORO"Daydreams" - Steel Sculpture from Torin Porter - Artist Reception and Exhibit: Porter's thoughtful and playful creations are of this world externally but we experience them internally. We feel their weight and texture and see their forms change in response to our movements as they come to life. 6/30 reception: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.). Through Sunday, August 12. Free. Mitchell-Giddings Fine Arts, 183 Main St. Information: 802-251-8290; Click for more info on Web in new window.

Film and video

BRATTLEBOROCineSLAM Film Festival - LGBT History - Kick Off for the 50th Anniversary Year of The Stonewall Uprising: Pride Film Festival of Shorts with Program Director John Scagliotti, sponsored by Kopkind Colony. Allen Young, '60s gay liberationist and local activist, opens up The Festival reading a short except from his new book "left gay & green, a writer's life." There will also be a tribute short film to the historians and archivists saving LGBT History. "We Started with an Old Shoe Box," a VT premiere, takes a look at how small and independent groups of gay/lesbian archivists began reconstructing the fragmented story of the LGBT past. In a piece from "Before Stonewall," we look at the '60s youth movement and see how important the "counterculture" was in building for the Stonewall Uprising. CineSLAM will show a clip from HB Lozito's Andrew's Inn Oral History Project, which looks at the history of Andrew's Inn, a disco, bar, hotel, and community space catering to the LGBTQ community in Bellows Falls which was in operation from 1973-1984. Also "Out Here," a documentary film, explores the hearts and hard work of queer farmers in the United States. It was made by local Green Mountain Crossroads board member, Jonah Mossberg. 4:30 p.m. $10. Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St. Information: stonewal@sover.net, www.cineslam.com.

Music

Local history

BRATTLEBOROEstey Organ Museum: See and play organs of many styles and sizes. Walk through a working pipe organ. Learn about Brattleboro's industrial past. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sat. and Sun. thru mid-Oct. Through Sunday, July 1. $5 suggested donation. Estey Organ Museum, 108 Birge St. Information: 802-246-8366; Click for more info on Web in new window.

Kids and families

S. LONDONDERRYBalloon Creations: Linda Schroeder will make you a balloon animal of your choice to take home. While you are at the library, put your name in the jar for a drawing for free admission to the Rutland Fair (ages 6-12). Pick up free reading records, bookmarks, and "Libraries Rock!" tattoos. 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m. Free. South Londonderry Free Library, 15 Old School St. Information: 802-824-3371; Click to e-mail for more information.

Dance

PUTNEYLast Saturday Contra Dance: Beginners welcome. All dances taught. No partner necessary. There will be a workshop for new dancers. Also a jam session for beginning and intermediate musicians. Over the course of a contra dance, each couple travels the length of the line and dances with every other couple. Bring a partner or a group of friends, but it’s not necessary; traditionally dancers are encouraged to change partners throughout the evening. Jim Fownes calling. Randy and Roger's contra music has been a favorite in the region for years. 6:30pm free jam session beginner/intermediate musicians, 7:30 workshop for new dancers, dancing 8-10:30pm. Suggested donation: $10, $7 students/seniors. Pierces Hall, 121 E. Putney Rd. Information: 802-387-0163.

Activism

KEENEBuilding a Progressive Movement in 2018 and Beyond: Coffee/Conversation with Nina Turner and Andru Volinsky: Turner, president of Our Revolution, is joined by special guest Andru Volinsky (Executive Council, District 2). This Rights and Democracy fundraiser is hosted by the Monadnock Progressive Alliance. 10 a.m. - 12 noon. $15, $20 at the door, $27 "feel the Bern". Keene State College, Mabel Brown Rm., 83 Blake St. Information: radnh.org/NinaTurnerKeene.

BRATTLEBORONot in Our Name: A Families Belong Together Solidarity Gathering: We'll gather in solidarity, hopefully with 2,000 pairs of children's shoes to represent the children of Asylum seekers that walked through our border seeking refuge only to find themselves torn from their parents and imprisoned without any contact. We are currently collecting children's shoes for the "empty shoes" visual exhibit. They can be dropped off at Everyone's Books in Brattleboro and at 7 West Street, (directly behind Putney Post Office). There is a bin in the drive with "Families Belong Together" postcards as identifiers. Organized by Everyone's Books, The Putney Huddle, and Brattleboro Rights and Democracy. 2 p.m. Brattleboro Common, bet. Putney Rd. & Linden St. RSVP: https://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together_attend1/20421?referring_akid=undefined.